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Full-Text Articles in Physics

Light That Appears To Come From A Source That Does Not Exist, Itamar Stern, Yakov Bloch, Einav Grynszpan, Merav Kahn, Yakir Aharonov, Justin Dressel, Eliahu Cohen, John C. Howell Jan 2024

Light That Appears To Come From A Source That Does Not Exist, Itamar Stern, Yakov Bloch, Einav Grynszpan, Merav Kahn, Yakir Aharonov, Justin Dressel, Eliahu Cohen, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Superoscillatory, band-limited functions oscillate faster than their fastest Fourier component. Superoscillations have been intensively explored recently as they give rise to many out-of-the-spectrum phenomena entailing both fundamental and applied significance. We experimentally demonstrate a form of superoscillations which is manifested by light apparently coming from a source located far away from the actual one. These superoscillations are sensed through sharp transverse shifts in the local wave vector at the minima of a pinhole diffraction pattern. We call this phenomenon “optical ventriloquism.”


Weakness Of Weak Values: Incompatibility Of Anomalous Pulse-Spectrum Amplification And Optical Frequency Combs, John C. Howell Jul 2022

Weakness Of Weak Values: Incompatibility Of Anomalous Pulse-Spectrum Amplification And Optical Frequency Combs, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We probe the use of optical frequency combs to place lower bounds on anomalous amplification of a weak-value-measured pulse delay, potentially reaching a theoretical temporal resolution of better than 10−34 s. Owing to the interferometric behavior of weak values, we show that anomalous weak value amplification of a time delay is not equivalent to a temporal linear phase ramp. We show that the anomalous weak value is a rearrangement of amplitudes that generates an apparent shift that can be measured in direct detection, but does not change the actual frequency offset of a spectral distribution measurable in coherent detection. …


Roadmap On Superoscillations, Michael Berry, Nicolay Zheludev, Yakir Aharonov, Fabrizio Colombo, Irene Sabadini, Daniele C. Struppa, Jeff Tollaksen, Edward T. F. Rogers, Fei Qin, Minghui Hong, Xiangang Luo, Roei Remez, Ady Arie, Jörg B. Götte, Mark R. Dennis, Alex M. H. Wong, George V. Eleftheriades, Yaniv Eliezer, Alon Bahabad, Gang Chen, Zhongquan Wen, Gaofeng Liang, Chenglong Hao, C-W Qiu, Achim Kempf, Eytan Katzav, Moshe Schwartz Apr 2019

Roadmap On Superoscillations, Michael Berry, Nicolay Zheludev, Yakir Aharonov, Fabrizio Colombo, Irene Sabadini, Daniele C. Struppa, Jeff Tollaksen, Edward T. F. Rogers, Fei Qin, Minghui Hong, Xiangang Luo, Roei Remez, Ady Arie, Jörg B. Götte, Mark R. Dennis, Alex M. H. Wong, George V. Eleftheriades, Yaniv Eliezer, Alon Bahabad, Gang Chen, Zhongquan Wen, Gaofeng Liang, Chenglong Hao, C-W Qiu, Achim Kempf, Eytan Katzav, Moshe Schwartz

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Superoscillations are band-limited functions with the counterintuitive property that they can vary arbitrarily faster than their fastest Fourier component, over arbitrarily long intervals. Modern studies originated in quantum theory, but there were anticipations in radar and optics. The mathematical understanding—still being explored—recognises that functions are extremely small where they superoscillate; this has implications for information theory. Applications to optical vortices, sub-wavelength microscopy and related areas of nanoscience are now moving from the theoretical and the demonstrative to the practical. This Roadmap surveys all these areas, providing background, current research, and anticipating future developments.


Completely Top–Down Hierarchical Structure In Quantum Mechanics, Yakir Aharonov, Eliahu Cohen, Jeff Tollaksen Nov 2018

Completely Top–Down Hierarchical Structure In Quantum Mechanics, Yakir Aharonov, Eliahu Cohen, Jeff Tollaksen

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Can a large system be fully characterized using its subsystems via inductive reasoning? Is it possible to completely reduce the behavior of a complex system to the behavior of its simplest “atoms”? In this paper we answer these questions in the negative for a specific class of systems and measurements. After a general introduction of the topic, we present the main idea with a simple two-particle example, where strong correlations arise between two apparently empty boxes. This leads to surprising effects within atomic and electromagnetic systems. A general construction based on preand postselected ensembles is then suggested, wherein the Nbody …


Quasiprobability Behind The Out-Of-Time-Ordered Correlator, Nicole Yunger Halpern, Brian Swingle, Justin Dressel Apr 2018

Quasiprobability Behind The Out-Of-Time-Ordered Correlator, Nicole Yunger Halpern, Brian Swingle, Justin Dressel

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Two topics, evolving rapidly in separate fields, were combined recently: the out-of-time-ordered correlator (OTOC) signals quantum-information scrambling in many-body systems. The Kirkwood-Dirac (KD) quasiprobability represents operators in quantum optics. The OTOC was shown to equal a moment of a summed quasiprobability [Yunger Halpern, Phys. Rev. A 95, 012120 (2017)]. That quasiprobability, we argue, is an extension of the KD distribution. We explore the quasiprobability's structure from experimental, numerical, and theoretical perspectives. First, we simplify and analyze Yunger Halpern's weak-measurement and interference protocols for measuring the OTOC and its quasiprobability. We decrease, exponentially in system size, the number of trials …


Weak Values Obtained In Matter-Wave Interferometry, Stephan Sponar, Tobias Denkmayr, Hermann Geppert, Hartmutt Lemmel, Alexandre Matzkin, Jeff Tollaksen, Yuji Hasegawa Jan 2015

Weak Values Obtained In Matter-Wave Interferometry, Stephan Sponar, Tobias Denkmayr, Hermann Geppert, Hartmutt Lemmel, Alexandre Matzkin, Jeff Tollaksen, Yuji Hasegawa

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Weak values, introduced more than 25 years ago, underwent a metamorphosis from a theoretical curiosity to a powerful resource in photonics for exploring foundations of quantum mechanics, as well as a practical laboratory tool. Due to the tiny coherence volume of particles used in matter-wave optics, a straightforward implementation of weak measurements is not feasible. We have overcome this hurdle by developing a method to weakly measure a massive particle's spin component. A neutron optical approach is realized by utilizing neutron interferometry, where the neutron's spin is coupled weakly to its spatial degree of freedom. Here, we present how one …


Conservation Of The Spin And Orbital Angular Momenta In Electromagnetism, Konstantin Y. Bliokh, Justin Dressel, Franco Nori Sep 2014

Conservation Of The Spin And Orbital Angular Momenta In Electromagnetism, Konstantin Y. Bliokh, Justin Dressel, Franco Nori

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We review and re-examine the description and separation of the spin and orbital angular momenta (AM) of an electromagnetic field in free space. While the spin and orbital AM of light are not separately meaningful physical quantities in orthodox quantum mechanics or classical field theory, these quantities are routinely measured and used for applications in optics. A meaningful quantum description of the spin and orbital AM of light was recently provided by several authors, which describes separately conserved and measurable integral values of these quantities. However, the electromagnetic field theory still lacks corresponding locally conserved spin and orbital AM currents. …


Tight Knot Spectrum In Qcd, Roman V. Buniy, Jason Cantarella, Thomas W. Kephart, Eric Rawdon Jan 2014

Tight Knot Spectrum In Qcd, Roman V. Buniy, Jason Cantarella, Thomas W. Kephart, Eric Rawdon

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We model the observed J(++) mesonic mass spectrum in terms of energies for tightly knotted and linked chromoelectric QCD flux tubes. The data is fit with one- and two-parameter models. We predict a possible new state at approximately 1190 MeV and a plethora of new states above 1690 MeV.


The Classical Limit Of Quantum Optics: Not What It Seems At First Sight, Yakir Aharonov, Alonso Botero, Shmuel Nussinov, Sandu Popescu, Jeff Tollaksen, Lev Vaidman Jan 2013

The Classical Limit Of Quantum Optics: Not What It Seems At First Sight, Yakir Aharonov, Alonso Botero, Shmuel Nussinov, Sandu Popescu, Jeff Tollaksen, Lev Vaidman

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

What light is and how to describe it has always been a central subject in physics. As our understanding has increased, so have our theories changed: geometrical optics, wave optics and quantum optics are increasingly sophisticated descriptions, each referring to a larger class of phenomena than its predecessor. But how exactly are these theories related? How and when wave optics reduces to geometric optics is a rather simple problem. Similarly, how quantum optics reduces to wave optics has also been considered to be a very simple business. It is not so. As we show here the classical limit of quantum …


Quantum Interference Experiments, Modular Variables And Weak Measurements, Jeff Tollaksen, Yakir Aharonov, Aharon Casher, Tirzah Kaufherr, Shmuel Nussinov Jan 2010

Quantum Interference Experiments, Modular Variables And Weak Measurements, Jeff Tollaksen, Yakir Aharonov, Aharon Casher, Tirzah Kaufherr, Shmuel Nussinov

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We address the problem of interference using the Heisenberg picture and highlight some new aspects through the use of pre-selection, post-selection, weak measurements and modular variables. We present a physical explanation for the different behaviors of a single particle when the distant slit is open or closed; instead of having a quantum wave that passes through all slits, we have a localized particle with non-local interactions with the other slit(s). We introduce a Gedanken experiment to measure this non-local exchange. While the Heisenberg and Schrodinger pictures are equivalent formulations of quantum mechanics, nevertheless, the results discussed here support a new …


Color Transparency In Qcd And Post-Selection In Quantum Mechanics, Shmuel Nussinov, Jeff Tollaksen Jan 2008

Color Transparency In Qcd And Post-Selection In Quantum Mechanics, Shmuel Nussinov, Jeff Tollaksen

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We discuss color transparency in the nuclear QCD context from the perspective of pre- and post-selected ensembles. We show that the small size of the hadronic states can be explained by the peculiar "force of post-selection," in contrast to the more standard explanation based on external forces.


Forbidden Lines Of Np^Q Ions. Ii. Line Intensities, J. P. Lynch, Menas Kafatos Jan 1991

Forbidden Lines Of Np^Q Ions. Ii. Line Intensities, J. P. Lynch, Menas Kafatos

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Ground state forbidden transitions of np^q ions of C, N, 0, Ne, Mg, Si, S, and Fe can provide important information on the state of cosmic ionized gases. Wavelengths of these lines are in the far- and near-UV visible and near- and far-IR regions of the spectrum. The line intensity ratios of particular transitions in q = 2, 4 ions can provide information on the temperature of the gas and in q = 3 ions information on the density of the gas. In the present work we have tabulated the line intensities of 95 transitions of these ions, which include …


Forbidden Lines Of Np^Q Ions. I. Detailed Balance And Line Intensity Ratios, Menas Kafatos, J. P. Lynch Jan 1980

Forbidden Lines Of Np^Q Ions. I. Detailed Balance And Line Intensity Ratios, Menas Kafatos, J. P. Lynch

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Ground state forbidden transitions of np^q ions of C, N, 0, Ne, Mg, Si, S, and Fe can provide important information on the state of cosmic ionized gases. Wavelengths of these lines are in the far- and near-UV visible and near-- and far-IR regions of the spectrum. The line intensity ratios of particular transitions in q = 2, 4 ions can provide information on the temperature of the gas and in q = 3 ions information on the density of the gas. In the present work we have tabulated the line intensities of 95 transitions of these ions, which include …


Statistical Time-Dependent Model For The Interstellar Gas, H. Gerola, Menas Kafatos, R. Mccray Jan 1974

Statistical Time-Dependent Model For The Interstellar Gas, H. Gerola, Menas Kafatos, R. Mccray

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We present models for temperature and ionization structure of low, uniform-density (n ~ 0.3 cm^-3) interstellar gas in a galactic disk which is exposed to soft X-rays from supernova outbursts occurring randomly in space and time. The structure was calculated by computing the time record of temperature and ionization at a given point by Monte Carlo simulation. The calculation yields probability distribution functions for ionized fraction x, temperature T, and their various observable moments. These time-dependent models predict a bimodal temperature distribution of the gas with structure in x, T that agrees with various observations. Cold regions in the low-density …


Time-Dependent Ionization Equilibrium And Line Radiation Under Flarelike Conditions, Menas Kafatos, W. H. Tucker Jan 1972

Time-Dependent Ionization Equilibrium And Line Radiation Under Flarelike Conditions, Menas Kafatos, W. H. Tucker

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The results of calculations for time-dependent ionization equilibrium and line emission are presented and compared with the values obtained under the assumption that steady-state conditions prevail. In the models considered, it is assumed that the electron density is constant (=10^3 cm^-3) and that the temperature increases by a factor of 10 from 3 x 10^6 K on timescales ranging from 100 to 300 s and decays back to 3 x 10^6 K on a timescale ranging from 600 to 1400 s. Ions of oxygen and silicon are considered, and it is found that the spectrum is softer during the rise …